Keyboard for stringed instruments.



1 10. 730,000. I PATENTED JUNE 2, 1 903,;

G. P. BUGHANAN. KEYBOARD FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31, 1902.

H0 IODEL.

UNITED STATES latentedJune 2, 1903.

PATENT FFICE.

KEYBOARD FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 30,000, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed October 31, 1902.

To to ugh/07m it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BUCHANAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyboards for Stringed Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in keyboards for stringed instruments, and relates more particularly to violins, Violas, violoncellos, bass and doublebass instruments.

The present invention consists of a keyboard which may be easily attached and do tached to the finger-board of a violin or other stringed instrument for the purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described.

My invention further contemplates to construct a keyboard upon which it will be an easy matter to play in any difficult position upon a violin, not only the first, third, fifth, and seventh positions, but also the second, fourth, and sixth positions.

The invention also has in view to provide a device of the above-described character that may be readily adjusted to conform to the plane of the strings; furthermore, to provide a series of keys that will have a greater leverage to produce the higher notes upon the strings, the latter being particularly desirable upon instruments upon which a high bridge is employed, for the reason that it requires a greater pressure to produce the high notes, the distance at such point between the strings and the finger-board being greater, as is well known in the art.

My invention still further contemplates to provide novel means whereby an independent adjustment of each key may be obtained.

The invention broadly consists of a removable keyboard attached to the finger-board of a violin and resting upon the strings thereof, which keys are pressed to produce harmonies by changing the vibrating length of the string to alter its pitch.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,

Serial No. 129,51 (No model.)

to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved keyboard attached in position upon the neck of the violin, the latter being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged under plan view of the keyboard, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same. Fig. l is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the means for raising or lowering the keyboard. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the block secured to the head of the violin, upon which the forward end of the keyboard is secured. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the springs of the key. Fig. 7is a similar view of a modified form of spring. Fig. 8 is a perspective .view of the side bars that carry the keys. Fig. ilis a similar view of a modified form of side bars having secured therein a key. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of two keys assembled as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the keys.

In the drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates the body portion of the violin, to

which is attached the usual form of neck 2, upon which is secured the finger-board 3, the forward portion of the neck carrying the head 4. The keyboard 5 has formed integral therewith at its forwardend a slotted lug 6. This keyboard has also formed therein a number of elongated openings 7, which correspond in number to the strings of the instrument, and in these openings are movably secured the keys 8 and 9, the latter indicating the sharps and flats and the former the naturals. The rearward end of the keyboard has formed integral therewith the slotted lugs 10, through which extends the screw 11, carrying the shoulder 12, upon which the keyboard rests,

this screw extending in the clamp 14, one of which is arranged upon each side of the neck portion of the violin, said clamp 14: extending under the body portion of the violin, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and clamped thereto by means of the adjusting-screw 15.

A similar set-screw 16 extends through the slotted lug 6 and extends into the block 17, which abuts against the end of the fingerboard, this block carrying the adj Listing-screw or turnbuckle 18, which connects with the semicircular brace 19, engaging the inner face of the head of the violin. The keys 8 and 9 have their sides cut away, as shown at 20, to receive the enlarged ends of the side bars 21, said keys also having formed therein slots 22, into which extends the set-screw 23, which serves to retain the key in position, and said slot permitting the independent adjustment of each key. The side bars 21 have formed therein notches 24 to receive the springs 25, which springs are secured to the flanges 26, between which the keys operate. The side bars of the keys have formed integral therewith outwardly-extending pins 27, which are also suitably secured in the downwardly-extending flanges 26, these pins forming a pivotal connection, as will be readily understood.

The upper keys of the strings are provided with side bars, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, which will permit the side bars as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings to be secured between the side bars as illustrated in Fig. 9, thus obtaining a greater leverage for the upper keys than could otherwise be obtained, furthermore greatly facilitating the playing of the high positions.

When it is desired. to remove the keyboard, the screws 11 and 16 are turned in a manner as to permit the heads of the screws to pass through the slots, when the keyboard may be easily removed from the finger-board.

I preferably form the black keys 9, indicating the sharps and flats, of hard rubber or gntta-percha.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In combination with stringed instruments, a removable keyboard having openings formed therein, spring-pressed keys socured in said openings, means to independently adjust the fingerpieces of said keys, and a brace secured between the ends of the finger-board and the head of the violin to secure said keyboard, substantially as described.

2. In a violin attachment, the combination of a removable keyboard formed with openings and a plurality of series of keys, one series being pivoted in each of said openings, each of said series comprising two keys, pivotally monnted'one within the other.

3. The combination with the violin, the keyboard and the keys arranged thereon, means interposed between the keyboard and the head of the violin, and an adjusting means for the said keyboard engaging the said first-named means.

4. In a device of the type set forth, a keyboard formed with a plurality of slots, keys, means for pivotally mounting said keys in the said slots, and keys pivotally mounted between the pivotal supporting means of the first-named keys.

5. The combination with the keyboard formed with a plurality of openings, of levers operating through said openings, and fingerpieces carried by said levers, said levers varying in length with the shorter ones operating within the others.

6. The combination with the stringed instrument and the keyboard, of supporting means arranged adjacent the opposite ends of the keyboard, and adjusting means for the said keyboard, projecting therethrough and engaging the supporting-means.

7. The combination with the stringed instrument, and the keyboard having its opposite ends slotted, supporting means carried by the instrument adjacent the opposite ends of the keyboard, and set-screws extending through the slots of the said keyboard, having their lower ends in threaded engagement with the said supporting means, and being formed with shoulders upon which the said keyboard rests.

8. An attachment for stringed instruments, comprising a keyboard, and a brace, means for adjusting the brace, a block engaged by said adjusting means, and means engaging said block for adjusting the keyboard relatively to the brace.

9. The combination with the violin, the keyboard arranged on the neck thereof, means for supporting the rear end thereof, a block arranged adjacent the forward end of the said keyboard, means engaging the said block for supporting the forward end of the said keyboard, a brace engaging the head of the violin, and means interposed between the said brace and block for adjusting the same.

10. The combination with the keyboard formed with a plurality of slots, of notched levers operating through the said slots, keys carried by said levers and springs engaging the notches of the said levers.

11. The combination with the violin, of the keyboard having its ends slotted, a block arranged adjacent the head of the violin, clamps carried by the body of the violin, and setscrews supporting the said keyboard, and engaging the said block and clamps respectively.

12. The combination with the body, neck and head of the violin, means engaging the violin-body for supporting the rear end of the keyboard, a semicircular brace engaging the inner face of the violin-head, and means interposed between the keyboard and brace for supporting the said keyboard.

13. The combination with the keyboard, formed with slots, of the keys arranged in pairs, and means for supporting said keys whereby one key of each pair operates through the supporting means of the other key.

14. In a device of the type set forth, the combination with the keyboard, of a block, an adjusting means interposed between the said block and keyboard, a turnbuckle carried by the said block, and a brace carried on the outer end of the said turnbuckle.

15. The combination with the violin, and the keyboard, of means supportedby the body of the violin for adjusting the rear end of the keyboard, a block mounted adjacent the outer end of the neck, of the violin, and means engaging the said block for adjusting the forward end of the keyboard.

16. The combination with the keyboard formed with a plurality of slots, of short levers formed on their inner ends with out wardly-projecting pins pivoted in the walls of the said slots, long levers mounted on the pins of the first'named levers, and fingerpieces carried by the said levers.

17. The combination of the keyboard formed with a plurality of slots, and a pair of keys operating in each of said slots, one key of each pair norm ally extending above the other.

18. An attachment for violin comprising a keyboard, a brace, an adjusting means carried in each end of the keyboard, and abloek carried by the said brace and engaging the adjusting means at one end of the said keyboard.

19. The combination with the violin, of the keyboard formed in its end with slots, means arranged in said slots for adjusting the keyboard vertically, a block arranged adjacent one end of the said keyboard and being engaged by the adjusting means thereof, a brace engaging the head of the violin, and means interposed between the said block and brace for adjusting the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE P. BUCHANAN,

Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, E. E. POTTER. 

